This weekend ACD had the pleasure of attending The Americas Cake Fair. The three-day show, held in Orlando, Florida, featured an incredible sugar fashion show, celebrity meet and greet, Live Cake Challenge, competition, classes and demonstrations and an incredible range of vendors showcasing the latest cake products and tools.
A Really Sweet Show: The Americas Cake Fair Hosted by Satin Ice
Entices Thousands to Orlando, Florida
An estimated 10,000 baking professionals, industry buyers, pastry chefs, cake artists, retail bakers, hobbyists and everyday foodies from around the world convened in Orlando, Florida on October 13-15, 2017 for The Americas Cake Fair (Cake Fair), the largest trade and consumer show in North and South America dedicated to cake, chocolate and sugar artistry. The event was hosted by Satin Ice.
Our Editor, Rebekah meets the Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro
Sugar Extravaganza
The biennial international expo held at the Orange County Convention Center featured a jam-packed schedule of eye-catching, inspiring and interactive educational and entertaining features appealing to all ages and skill levels, from children to cake design maestros. The Domino Sugar live theater served as the centerpiece of the show throughout the weekend, where attendees savored appearances by “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro, star of the hit TLC show; Mich Turner, whose clientele includes The Queen of England, Madonna and David Beckham; pastry genius Ron Ben-Israel, named “the Manolo Blahnik of wedding cakes” by The New York Times; Nancy Fuller, host of Food Network’s Farmhouse Rules; Natalie Sideserf, co-star of Food Network’s Texas Cake House; renowned cake designers Paul Bradford, Shawna McGreevy, Avalon Yarnes and Edwald Notter; and Stage Host and Celebrity Chef Emily Ellyn, the Retro Rad Chef from Food Network.
A Fierce Fashion Show
Sweetening the line-up of activities at Cake Fair was The Sugar Art Fashion Show with models strutting the runway adorned by cake costumes and edible ensembles; more than 100 hands-on classes, demonstrations and business seminars during which attendees built their skills and learned from the best in the business; a Live Global Cake Challenge, where 10 international teams battled for top honors (Team Ireland iced a back-to-back victory and $10,000 prize); traditional cake competitions offering cash prizes for contestants across all skill levels; and themed “zones,” including a Kids Zone for budding cake artists, a Chocolate Zone, and the ACD Magazine Cake Zone sponsored by American Cake Decorating Magazine. Attendees were inspired by spectacular show cakes dotting the show floor, as well as a life-size Superwoman, live sculpted by The Chocolate Genius, Paul Yoachim. The new-to-Cake Fair VIP Meet & Greet Party, which gave attendees an exclusive opportunity to mingle and take snaps with their favorite stage headliners and Satin Ice Artists of Excellence, was an instant hit. The 16th Annual Pillsbury™ Bakers’ Plus Grand Champion Creative Decorating Competition, hosted by General Mills Foodservice and the Retail Bakers of America, also created excitement on the show floor.
Lifetime Achievement
Two significant announcements highlighted the awards ceremony: standout cake designer and owner of Central Florida-based Bake Me A Cake, Mercedes Strachwsky, received an Industry Achievement Award for her contributions to the cake and baking industry (her dazzling show cake, “Fantasy Under the Sea,” was a creation three weeks in the making); and Satin Ice announced its new partnership with Icing Smiles to support the national nonprofit organization that partners with volunteer bakers known as “sugar angels” to create custom cakes for families impacted by the critical illness of a child.
Paul Bradford demonstrated his signature Crystal Palace cake design
“The Americas Cake Fair was very successful and a rare opportunity for bakers, exhibitors, professionals and consumer enthusiasts from all over the world to mingle, learn what’s trending in the industry right now, and return with inspiration and ideas to grow their own businesses or hobbies,” said Kevin O’Reilly, founder and CEO of Satin Fine Foods and Cake Fair. “Our show is setting a new standard for professionals and hobbyists, alike, as evidenced by the increased level of quality and creativity of the competition cakes in just two years.”
For more news and show highlights, follow Cake Fair on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter(@cakefair). For more information, visit www.CakeFair.com.
About Satin Ice / Satin Fine Foods, Inc.
Satin Fine Foods, Inc. is a world-leading rolled fondant manufacturer. Established in 2001, Satin Fine Foods developed the Satin Ice range of products to satisfy the demands of the world’s best cake artists. Known for its superior workability, consistency and taste, Satin Ice has become the premium fondant of choice for professional cake artists around the globe. For more information, please visit www.satinice.com.
